<div><div dir="auto">I have a phone call scheduled with County Council Chair Glaros at 4 pm. She forwarded me a letter she had sent to a concerned resident....here is the main text of the letter:</div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">“<span style="font-size:1rem;font-family:sans-serif-medium;color:rgb(87,87,87);word-spacing:1px">Thank you for reaching out to me on this important matter. Like you, I read the article with great concern and am taking it incredibly seriously.</span></div><div style="color:rgb(49,49,49);word-spacing:1px" dir="auto"><div class="m_-3995142018074364962WordSection1" dir="auto"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font face="sans-serif-medium" style="font-size:1rem">While we have had challenges with gangs throughout my Council district and in the Riverdale area for many years similar to the entire region, I was not aware of the specific incidents reported in the Washington Post article. I spent most of yesterday on the phone with the Chief of Police, PGCPS leadership, nonprofit partners working directly with WWMS students and families, the Board of Education member for that area, and civic leaders, to understand their direct, personal experiences inside the school with WWMS teachers and students. In general, everyone I spoke with yesterday shared that while there are concerns, they felt the Post headline is, overall, a gross mischaracterization of the school. </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font face="sans-serif-medium" style="font-size:1rem">Over the years, the police and others have worked on significant education and awareness efforts regarding gang activity with Riverdale-area residents and PGCPS personnel. Those efforts will be continued and augmented. We are also having conversations to determine what other resources and collaborations are necessary to address the issues in the school and uncover any other concerns.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font face="sans-serif-medium" style="font-size:1rem">In recent years, the Board of Education member, school leadership, and I have worked hard to bring new nonprofit partners and resources to William Wirt, including increased social services support, strong mentoring programs, and more. </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font face="sans-serif-medium" style="font-size:1rem">From my first day in office, building a new school for these students has been a top priority. I'm proud to say the new building is being designed now, and is on track to welcome students in September 2021 into a state-of-the-art facility. The final step will be for state funding for construction to be allocated. I am hopeful that will happen this fall.</font></p></div></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:1rem;font-family:sans-serif-medium;color:rgb(49,49,49);word-spacing:1px">Again, I want you to know that I am taking the allegations in the Post article very seriously and join you and others in understanding the urgent need to ensure that our students, teachers and community members are safe and feel safe.</span>”</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div>On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 14:19 Alan K. Thompson <<a href="mailto:akthompson@riverdaleparkmd.gov">akthompson@riverdaleparkmd.gov</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div dir="auto">Dear Audrey,</div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">This article was a shock to those of us on the Town Council as well, as it does not match our knowledge of conditions/issues at William Wirt. We are aware of it and are working with the county to understand the situation and respond appropriately, within the limits of jurisdiction you mention.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Alan</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div>On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 12:05 Audrey Bragg <<a href="mailto:abragg7393@aol.com" target="_blank">abragg7393@aol.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><font color="black" size="2" face="Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I was shocked to read about the MS13 gang taking over William Wirt Middle School in the Washington Post this morning. That is the school where the children of Riverdale Park go to school. Is our town doing anything to solve this problem. I know it is county jurisdiction, but our children are our jurisdiction and we should be aware and demand that our children are safe. Is anyone in this town working on this?
<div>Audrey Bragg, Ward 2<br>
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